Community Mourns Dozens Who Died Struggling with Homelessness and Addiction This Year

Content Warning: This report discusses suicide and drug addiction.

At least 47 individuals experiencing homelessness, precarious housing, or addiction-related challenges died in Moncton over the past year, according to community members who gathered for a memorial service to honour their lives.

David Gordon Koch – Local Journalism Initiative

Dozens of people attended the solemn event in Victoria Park near downtown Moncton on Wednesday afternoon. Names of the deceased were read aloud, and attendees placed paper leaves inscribed with those names onto the branches of a tree, creating a poignant tribute.

John Renton, a local advocate with the grassroots group Ragged People, which supports Moncton’s homeless population, shared heartfelt memories of friends lost to overdose and suicide.

“The invasiveness of illicit drugs is both a cause and effect of the suffering on our streets today,” Renton told the crowd, which included social agency staff, community members, and mourners. Renton urged people to confront the stigma surrounding poverty, addiction, and homelessness. “Seeing this turnout, the media coverage—anything that helps stop stigma and brings attention to the crisis—is a big deal,” he said.

The service was led by Rev. Chris VanBuskirk of St. George’s Anglican Church, which provides hot meals and other support services. The ceremony included personal reflections, scripture readings, and music by singer-guitarist Jeremy Reid.

Rev. VanBuskirk referenced the official tally of deaths but cautioned that the actual number may be higher. He noted that deaths among individuals in conditions of homelessness and addiction rose to 55 in 2023, up from 23 the previous year.

“This takes a great toll, not just on families, but also on frontline workers and volunteers who form close bonds with the people they serve,” VanBuskirk said. He acknowledged progress in housing support efforts, citing the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), which helps agencies and government departments coordinate services. However, he emphasized the need for more community involvement. “We need neighbours and friends—beyond just the experts—each of us realizing that we can do something,” he said.

Shannon Barry, senior director of outreach at YMCA of Greater Moncton, highlighted advancements in moving individuals from shelters and encampments into stable housing. However, she underscored the persistent challenges posed by a critical shortage of affordable housing and the ongoing overdose crisis.

“Unfortunately, the numbers keep growing, and it’s hard to keep up, especially with Moncton’s low vacancy rates,” Barry said. Despite the challenges, she noted, “there is progress happening.”

Barry emphasized that housing is a vital component of recovery. “Sixty percent of the losses this year were due to accidental overdoses,” she explained. “Addressing housing and tackling the toxic drug supply would have the greatest impact on the people we work with every day.”

Emergency Support Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, addiction, or mental health challenges, help is available:

• In immediate danger: Call 911.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Dial 9-8-8 for 24/7 support.
• Chimo Helpline: 1-800-667-5005
• Mobile Crisis Unit (Horizon Health Network)
• Mobile Crisis Response Services (Réseau de santé Vitalité)

Clarification: The Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee states that at least 47 people died while homeless, vulnerably housed, or struggling with addiction in Moncton in 2024. An earlier version of this report indicated that at least 51 people had died, as stated during the memorial service. However, that figure included six people who died in 2023, according to the GMHSC. Two more people died in 2024 following the memorial service, bringing the total to 47. This report was updated on Jan. 23, 2025, at 2:55 p.m.

David Gordon Koch is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. Robert MacKay is an anti-poverty organizer and a volunteer with the NB Media Co-op. This reporting was made possible in part by funding from the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).